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Event: IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona 2016

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By EditorTurner

Event: IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona 2016

Race Tested

Mechanical issues challenged the Ford EcoBoost teams at Daytona

By Steve Turner

Heading into the Rolex 24 at Daytona all the hype was about the debut of the Ford GT its first endurance race. The grueling 24-hour race would prove an ideal setting to see if the new race car was ready for its historic return to Le Mans in June. It turned out that the first race found the GT’s weak link—the transmission. Even the proven EcoBoost prototypes had their issues with both cars struggling with brake system woes.

“It’s a brand new program, so we didn’t expect to run free, but at the end of the day, the car showed some pace and we’ve been able to reach the checkered flag,” Sébastien Bourdais, driver of the number 66 Ford GT, said. “There’s been a few issues, but one that’s been happening a few times which obviously took us out of contention. That had never happened before. We will just try to understand and fix it and come back stronger.”
“It’s a brand new program, so we didn’t expect to run free, but at the end of the day, the car showed some pace and we’ve been able to reach the checkered flag,” Sébastien Bourdais, driver of the number 66 Ford GT, said. “There’s been a few issues, but one that’s been happening a few times which obviously took us out of contention. That had never happened before. We will just try to understand and fix it and come back stronger.”

“We certainly had our share of reliability issues, and that is not uncommon in a brand new car’s debut. As we have said, the first time these two particular cars hit the road was literally at the Roar (Before the Rolex 24) test here a couple weeks ago. Aspects of our total testing program had gone very well, so I think we’re a little surprised at some of the reliability issues we have had,” said Raj Nair, executive vice president, Global Product Development, and chief technical officer, Ford Motor Company. “As we get into diagnosing the issues, some of them are very specific to what is going on in a race…coming in for a tire change and the wheel hitting a brake line and breaking it. Running three hours under our caution engine calibration (when the car is under yellow flag), and then finding out that is actually causing a problem. We’re still diagnosing some of the stuff that was happening. Maybe even the aspect of the way the in-car TV cameras were wired, which we obviously don’t run during testing, and that may have impacted some of our power feeds and noise in the system. Those kinds of things you aren’t going to find except in a race environment.”

“It was an amazing start for both the No. 67 and 66 (Ford GTs) and a helluva achievement,” Richard Westbrook, driver of the number 67 Ford GT, said. “To be thrown a 24-hour race as our debut and then to finish with both cars, and to be able to run so competitively at the front as well and for long periods of the night. Obviously there were a few issues during the race with both cars, but that’s to be expected. Everything’s new and it’s only going to be better.”
“It was an amazing start for both the number 67 and 66 (Ford GTs) and a helluva achievement,” Richard Westbrook, driver of the number 67 Ford GT, said. “To be thrown a 24-hour race as our debut and then to finish with both cars, and to be able to run so competitively at the front as well and for long periods of the night. Obviously there were a few issues during the race with both cars, but that’s to be expected. Everything’s new and it’s only going to be better.”

While the hopes were high for the GT to have a strong showing in Daytona, this race really was a trial run for a brand-new race car before Ford pushes all its chips in with a historic return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“The good thing about it all, and the thing we are pleased about, is the car is showing some pace, it is showing some opportunity, and overall we are happy that we have a fast car and we need to work on reliability,” Raj added. “That’s a lot better than having a slow car that’s reliable, but you don’t know how to get speed out of it. Overall, this is racing and this is what can happen in racing. If we don’t win every race, we are disappointed, but at the same time we know how to fix our issues and we’ll be better the next time we come out.”

The Chip Ganassi Racing team repaired both of the Ford GTs and got them back into competition to finish their first 24-hour race.
The Chip Ganassi Racing team repaired both of the Ford GTs and got them back into competition to finish their first 24-hour race.

Despite the struggles the drivers had good things to say about how the Ford GT performed at Daytona. The number 66 GT actually led some laps early in the race before its transmission balked, and the 67 car also had transmission trouble. However, the Ganassi Racing teams got both cars repaired and back onto the track.

“For me, it was a pretty awesome day. I got to take the first start in this Ford GT. I got to lead the first laps with the Ford GT. The car drove well. We had a couple of little problems that set us back a few laps, but ultimately, the car was good and quick and had a good balance,” Joey Hand, driver of the number 66 Ford GT, said. “I think what we take away from this is we have a good race car, we have a good starting point, we finish these little issues and we’ll be major contenders in the long run.”

You can watch how the race began right here…

“Well, it was such an honor to race for Chip Ganassi Racing in the Rolex 24. Almost like a dream come true. After the first 18 hours or so, it seemed like that dream might come true,” Andy Priaulx, 01 Ford EcoBoost Riley prototype driver, said. “The last six hours hurt us with the issues we had, but I was just really excited to be able to race with this great group of drivers and experience this event with all of them.”
“Well, it was such an honor to race for Chip Ganassi Racing in the Rolex 24. Almost like a dream come true. After the first 18 hours or so, it seemed like that dream might come true,” Andy Priaulx, 01 Ford EcoBoost Riley prototype driver, said. “The last six hours hurt us with the issues we had, but I was just really excited to be able to race with this great group of drivers and experience this event with all of them.”

Ultimately the number 66 Ford GT crossed the finish line in the seventh position in the GT Le Mans class, while the number 67 Ford GT finished in the ninth position.

While just finishing such a race is an accomplishment for a new race car, it was the GT’s more experienced prototype cousins that fared better in the race, with the 01 prototype leading the race on seven different occasions.

“I love the Rolex 24. It’s my fourth time doing it, but actually the first time I’ve finished. My teammates, team, the mechanics, everyone did a fantastic job today. It was all going to plan. We were keeping it tidy, no mistakes. We knew we had a quick car and that showed with the lap times at the end, but unfortunately we lost a few laps with a small overheating issue,” Brendon Hartley, driver of the number 01 Ford EcoBoost Riley prototype, said. “Apart from that, I think it’s just unfortunate it happened so late. We got one lap back and that was from passing the leader. Great effort by everyone and I hope I’m back next year.”

“I had a lot of fun, it’s just disappointing we had the brake issues, it seems like most of the race there. I caught the tail end of it. Tony (Kanaan) got it the first time, then I was good for my stints,” Kyle Larson, driver of the number 2 EcoBoost Riley prototype, said. “I think overnight they had more problems, and when I got back in this morning we had our issues and I wrecked. I hate that we couldn’t back up our victory we had last year.”
“I had a lot of fun, it’s just disappointing we had the brake issues, it seems like most of the race there. I caught the tail end of it. Tony (Kanaan) got it the first time, then I was good for my stints,” Kyle Larson, driver of the number 2 EcoBoost Riley prototype, said. “I think overnight they had more problems, and when I got back in this morning we had our issues and I wrecked. I hate that we couldn’t back up our victory we had last year.”

Brake issues cost the 01 car laps, but similar brake troubles put the 02 prototype into the tires with less than three hours left in the race. The 01 EcoBoost prototype finished fifth overall and fifth in its class, while the 02 car finished seventh in class and 13th overall.

“I don’t think anyone should think of this race as a failure,” Global Director, Ford Performance Dave Pericak said. “It’s not the Cinderella story we were hoping for, but this is racing. I’d rather work the bugs out now, then later. Our team has been doing an amazing job of staying laser-focused during this race, and not getting discouraged. I can’t even believe how hard they were working. We will re-group, we will fix it, and then we will go out at Sebring and show what we can do. That’s what this is all about.”

Hear from Raj Nair what the teams learned at the Rolex 24 at Daytona…

A highlight for Ford owners at the race was the Ford Car Corral, which featured a dedicated section for GT owners, who also enjoyed their own hospitality area near the track.
A highlight for Ford owners at the race was the Ford Car Corral, which featured a dedicated section for GT owners, who also enjoyed their own hospitality area near the track.

IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona 2016 Gallery

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Event: IMSA CTSC Daytona 2016

News: VMP Performance Website

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